Walton Elementary Tot Lot Renovation Project
Information Page for Donors and Supporters
About Us
Walton Elementary PAC
2960 Walton Ave, Coquitlam BC, V3B 6V6
[email protected]
Justina Mark (Contact for Corporate Sponsors)
Stefanie Putzhammer (Chair, Contact for Individual Donors)
We support our learning community!
Click here to learn more about Walton Elementary PAC executive, mission and organization.
Our Goal
To fundraise $30,000 by June 2015 to finance a $50,000 renovation project for the 24-year-old tot lot playground at Walton Elementary School, located at 2960 Walton Ave. Coquitlam, BC.
The aging, original equipment is in urgent need of being replaced with modern, sturdy, long-lasting and safe playground equipment. The school has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the City of Coquitlam’s Spirit of Coquitlam Fund towards this community project. However, the funding will be forfeited if we cannot get the renovation project underway before the school year is out. We can meet this challenge with your support!
The Tot Lot Renovation Project
Historically, School District 43 has never had a budget for the installation of new playgrounds or the replacement of existing playgrounds, unrelated to present financial austerity. SD43 is only responsible for ongoing playground maintenance, safety checks and repairs. Accordingly, it has always been up to the PAC parents, charitable community institutions and corporate supporters to fill the funding gap.
The playground is a valuable asset for the surrounding community, and there is an urgent need to replace the small, old and decaying original wooden playing equipment. Motivation points and benefits to update the playground include the following:
The Parents, together with the school district, the administration and Henderson Playgrounds have laid out an attractive plan for the future tot lot site. The equipment is sturdy, interestingly structured, offering itself to a multitude of playing ideas, gaily coloured in red, blue and yellow, resistant to fire and insect damage (carpenter wasps have been a problem) and will serve young children for decades to come. Costs for equipment, site preparation, installation and removal of the old equipment are estimated to be around $50,000 in all.
How Donors Are Recognized
This is a community project based on the energy of volunteers and supported by the efforts of the entire community. We honour our sponsors’ contribution.
How to Donate
School District 43 will issue tax-deductible receipts for the tax year of 2015 for your cheques donating $25 or over. Please be advised that cheques need to be made out to Walton Elementary School, not the PAC, to qualify for tax-deductible receipts. To direct your donation towards the playground project, please put “Tot Lot Project” on the memo line.
For details on how to donate click here.
To support the Walton PAC Tot Lot Fundraising effort, or for any questions you may have beyond this information website, please contact Justina Mark (Corporate Sponsor Liaison) or Stefanie Putzhammer (Individual Sponsors) at [email protected]
Walton Elementary PAC
2960 Walton Ave, Coquitlam BC, V3B 6V6
[email protected]
Justina Mark (Contact for Corporate Sponsors)
Stefanie Putzhammer (Chair, Contact for Individual Donors)
We support our learning community!
Click here to learn more about Walton Elementary PAC executive, mission and organization.
Our Goal
To fundraise $30,000 by June 2015 to finance a $50,000 renovation project for the 24-year-old tot lot playground at Walton Elementary School, located at 2960 Walton Ave. Coquitlam, BC.
The aging, original equipment is in urgent need of being replaced with modern, sturdy, long-lasting and safe playground equipment. The school has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the City of Coquitlam’s Spirit of Coquitlam Fund towards this community project. However, the funding will be forfeited if we cannot get the renovation project underway before the school year is out. We can meet this challenge with your support!
The Tot Lot Renovation Project
Historically, School District 43 has never had a budget for the installation of new playgrounds or the replacement of existing playgrounds, unrelated to present financial austerity. SD43 is only responsible for ongoing playground maintenance, safety checks and repairs. Accordingly, it has always been up to the PAC parents, charitable community institutions and corporate supporters to fill the funding gap.
The playground is a valuable asset for the surrounding community, and there is an urgent need to replace the small, old and decaying original wooden playing equipment. Motivation points and benefits to update the playground include the following:
- The tot lot provides a safe place for children at Walton Elementary to play while they are at school, and for children in the surrounding community (including Canyon Springs Montessori School and several home based daycares) to play during the day, evenings and weekends. The playground is not fenced off and is accessible to the public, conveniently located directly off Walton Avenue. The closest playgrounds open to the public suitable for young children are located in the City Centre Park and on the crest of Eagle Ridge near Panorama Heights, a long walk for young children and their caregivers.
- Our aim is to have a well-planned and well-designed playground, offering a variety of activities to encourage development of physical and social skills. We want to help Walton Elementary School meet its objectives of a healthy living community – teachers are encouraged to ensure that the children are meeting the daily requirement of thirty minutes of physical activity per day, and a safe playground for children to use will help meet that objective.
- Walton Elementary School is a learning community that has undergone significant growth in the past few years – we are currently the largest elementary school in the district, with 530 full time students enrolled. In 2010, the Mandarin Bilingual program was launched at Walton Elementary, which has attracted many new students to our school from all across School District 43. The surrounding area is experiencing an influx of new families; many of these families have young children attending Walton. Our learning community celebrates the fact that we represent over twenty different nationalities. The playground is a place where kids and caregivers socialize, and it also provides an area for teachers to take their children during the day to play and learn.
- There are currently two playgrounds at Walton. The larger of the two was replaced in 2011, and this was a significant undertaking by the PAC. We managed to fundraise the full cost of the playground, which was much needed at the time. The overall cost of this playground was in excess of $80,000, and there was no grant money awarded for this endeavour. This larger, renovated playground features equipment that, while wheel-chair accessible, is too challenging for young children.
- The tot-lot, which is designed to cater to the younger, primary-age children, is in dire need of replacement, as it is almost 25 years old. Many of the structures are wooden and are showing signs of rot and significant wear and tear. With the influx of younger children to the school, it has become a priority to ensure that they have a safe place to play.
The Parents, together with the school district, the administration and Henderson Playgrounds have laid out an attractive plan for the future tot lot site. The equipment is sturdy, interestingly structured, offering itself to a multitude of playing ideas, gaily coloured in red, blue and yellow, resistant to fire and insect damage (carpenter wasps have been a problem) and will serve young children for decades to come. Costs for equipment, site preparation, installation and removal of the old equipment are estimated to be around $50,000 in all.
How Donors Are Recognized
This is a community project based on the energy of volunteers and supported by the efforts of the entire community. We honour our sponsors’ contribution.
- All donors get recognized on the Walton PAC website. Corporate sponsors will be entered first, complete with their logo and business location. A similar recognition list will furthermore be mailed out to the parents of the 530 student strong Walton community with our monthly e-newsletter.
- Donors contributing over $250 or more have an option to go up with their name or their dedication on the donor recognition board. See photo on right.
- Donations of $25 and over qualify for a tax-deductible receipt from School District 43.
- Our Walton students will honour contributing local businesses with an artwork thank-you letter suitable for wall display.
- You have a chance of contributing in a lasting way to children’s well-being and quality of living in the Canyon Springs neighbourhood.
How to Donate
School District 43 will issue tax-deductible receipts for the tax year of 2015 for your cheques donating $25 or over. Please be advised that cheques need to be made out to Walton Elementary School, not the PAC, to qualify for tax-deductible receipts. To direct your donation towards the playground project, please put “Tot Lot Project” on the memo line.
For details on how to donate click here.
To support the Walton PAC Tot Lot Fundraising effort, or for any questions you may have beyond this information website, please contact Justina Mark (Corporate Sponsor Liaison) or Stefanie Putzhammer (Individual Sponsors) at [email protected]
